Meter-box cover and lock



Mar. 13, 1923. 1,448,202 F. E. CROTTO METER BOX COVER AND LOCK FiledJune 27, 1922 INVENTOR ETZIHKEGRUTTO- Patented Mar. 13, 1923.

1,448,202 n'rsnr time.

FRANK E. cnor'ro, or DALLAS, TEXAS, Assreuon T JOE A. .GERBITY, orDALLAS,

TEXAS.

METER-BOX CCVER .AND LOCK.

Application filed June 27,

useful Improvements in Meter-Box Covers and Locks, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to meter box covers and the object is to provide asimple device for locking the covers to the boxes and which will holdthe covers on the boxes for the protection of the meters and to preventtampering with the meters by unauthorized persons and to provide alooking device which is easily operated and which will not be easilydisplaced under service conditions. One of the advantages of thisimproved lock is that it cannot be picked by persons who are disposed tomeddle with such devices. Other objects and advantages will be fullyexplained in the following description and the invention will be moreparticularly pointed out in the claims.

Reference is had to the accompanying drawing which form a part of thisapplication. a

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a meter box and the cover therefor. Fig. 2 isan inverted plan view of the cover with the locking devices appliedthereto. Fig. 3 is a broken vertical section, taken on the line 3-3 ofFig. 2. Fig. 4 is an inverted plan View of the plunger lock. Fig. '5 isan inverted side elevation of the same. Fig. 6 is a section of a cover,showing the plunger and the means for locking the plunger in place andthe support for the plunger. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the plungerand support therefor and the key seat. F ig. 8 is a de tail view of thespacing rib and of the guide lug, the spring beingomitted from the guidelug. Fig. 9 is an inverted view "of the stud guide and the cooperatingribs for holding the plunger in different positions. Fig. 10

is a side elevation of the plunger, showing the recesses therein forengaging thelocking ribs.

Similar characters of reference are used to indicate the same partsthroughout the several views. i

The drawings show a meter box 1 and a lid or cover 2 therefor. The edgeof the lid 2 is beveled as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

" The lid is strengthened by depending ribs 4 1922. Serial No. 671,210.

and and the lid has a locking "lug 6 for engaging the inwardlyprojecting flange? of the meter box. This lug 6 thus locks-the lid onone side or point of the periphery. The lid is locked at the diagonallyopposite point by a locking plunger 8. The plunger 8 is supportedgenerally by a depending'perforat'ed lug 9 which is integral with thelid 2. The plunger 8 is further supported by a stud guide which isintegral with a boss 11 which depends from the lid 2. A spring 12 isplaced on the stud guide and a cottar pin 13 supports the spring 12. Theplunger 8 moves freely in the lug 9, the perforation being large enoughto perm-it angular motion of the plunger so that the plungercan beadjusted on the guide stud 10. The plunger 8 is integral with a bodymemberor slide 14 which has an elongated vertical opening 15 to receivethe stud guide 10. The boss 11 has a' projection 16, being an integralrib on the lid 2. This spacing rib 16 holds the slide 14 and plunger 8in parallel relation to the lid 2, that is, this rib 16 prevents upwarddisplacement of the slide and plunger. The plunger 8 and's lide 14 arefurther held in parallel relation to the lid by the spring 12 whichholds the plunger and slide yieldingly upward. The loop member 17 hastwo locking recesses 18 and 19in the upper side thereof and the boss 11has two ribs 20 integral therewith and integral with the stud guide 10.The locking recesses 18 and 19 extend on both sides of the loop 17 butthe recess 19 does not extend entirely through the slide 14, just farenough to receive the rib 20. The ribs 20 will occupy either recesses-18or 19 as may be required. In the locked position the ribs 20 will occupythe recesses 18 and the plunger 8 will engage the flange '7, as show-nin Fig. In the unlocked position,

the ribs 20 will occupy the recesses 19.

key, shown in do'tted outline in Fig. 7 is used to actuate the plunger 8and slide 14 to move the plunger axially or longitudi nally. The slide14 has 'a key recess or notch 21 to receive the throw arm; of the key. Akey seat or opening 22 is made in the lid 2 for an operating key ofstandard type. A boss 23 is formed about the opening 22 to form abearing for the key. The boss, 23 has a depending curved flange 24 forguiding the, actuating arm of the key which has a slot for receiving theflange The flange 24L reinforces the key in operation. When the key isturned, the notch in the key arm receives the flange 24; and the key armis thus guided into the recess 21 of the plunger slide for actuating theplunger. Then the key actuates or throws the plunger 8 and slide 14, theslide 14 and plunger 8 must yield downwardly slightly until the uppersurface of the slide 14 will pass under the ribs 20. The spring 12 willpermit the slide 14 and plunger 8 to go down sufliciently for thepurpose. The ribs 2-0 and walls of the recesses 18 and 19 aresufliciently beveled to permit the forcing of the slide 14 and plunger 8axially Without making any other, provision for depressing the slide andplunger. As the plunger and slide are moving along under the lid, thespring 12 will force the slide and plunger up automatically as soon asone pair of the recesses, 18 or 19, comes under the ribs 20 so that theplunger will stand in the locked or unlocked position.

One of the advantages of this locking device is that the plunger ispositioned at one end of the key opening so that instruments for pickingthe lock cannot reach the plunger for operating the same. Variouschanges in the sizes, proportions and construction of the several partsmay be made Without departing from my invention.

What I claim, is,

1. In a meter box provided with an inwardly projecting flange, a coverfor said box having a depending lug for engaging said flange at onepoint of the circumference of said flange, a key-actuated plunger forengaging said flange at a diagonally opposite point from said lug andprovided with looking recesses, means on the underside of said coverincluding integral ribs adapted to occupy said recesses for normallyholding said plunger in position to be actuated by a key, means forholding said plunger in the locked and unlocked position, and meanspermitting a vertical movement of said plunger to pass from the lockedto the unlocked position and vice versa.

2. In a meter box provided with an inwardly projecting flange; a coverfor said box having a depending lug for engaging said flange at onepoint, a key-actuated plunger for engaging said flange at the sideopposite from said lug for locking said cover on said box, means on theunderside of said cover for normally holding said plunger parallel tosaid cover in position to be engaged by a key including a perforated lugdepending from said cover and a guide stud projecting downwardly throughsaid plungerand a spring mounted on said stud for holding said plungeryieldingly upward, andmeans for holdingsaid plunger in a locked positionand in an unlocked position as may be required.

3. In a meter box provided with an inwardly projecting flange; a coverfor said box having a depending lug for engaging said flange at onepoint, a key-actuated plunger for-engaging said flange at the oppositeside from said lug for locking said cover on said box, said plungerhaving an elongated opening vertically'therethrough and having lockingrecesses in the upper side thereof, locking ribs projecting from saidcover for engaging said plunger in said recesses, a guide stud projectedfrom said cover through said elongated opening, and a spring mounted onsaid stud below said plunger for supporting said plunger and holding thesame yieldingly against said locking ribs.

4. In a meter box provided with an inwardly projecting flange; a coverfor said box having a depending lug for engaging said flange at onepoint, a key-actuated plunger for engaging said flange at the oppositeside from said lug for locking said cover on said box, said plungerhaving locking recesses in pairs in the upper side thereof, locking ribsprojecting from said cover and adapted to engage one pair of recessesfor holding the plunger in the unlocked position and to engage anotherpair of recesses for holding said plunger in the locked position, saidplunger being slidably mounted on the underside of said cover, and meansfor holding said plunger yieldingly against said locking ribs.

5. In a meter-box provided with an inwardly projecting flange; a coverfor said boxhaving a depending lug for engaging said flange at onepoint, a key-actuated plunger slidably mounted on the underside of saidcover and adapted to engage said flange at the opposite side from saidlug and provided with looking recesses in the upperside thereof, lockingribs projecting from said cover and adapted to enter one pair of saidrecesses for holding said plunger in the locked position and adapted toenter another pair of said recesses for holding said plunger in theunlocked position, and means for holding said plunger yieldingly againstsaid ribs.

6. In a meter box provided with an inwardly projecting flange; a coverfor said box havinga locking element for engaging said flange at onepoint, a key-actuated plunger slidably mounted on the underside of saidcover and adapted to engage said flange at the opposite side from saidlocking element and provided with locking recesses in pairs in the upperside thereof, locking ribs projecting from said cover and adapted toenter one pair of said recesses for holding said plunger in the lockedposition and adapted to enter another pair of said recesses for holdingsaid plunger in the unlocked position, a guide rib and a perforated lugdepending from said cover for holding said plunger against displacement,and means for holding said plunger yieldingly against said locking ribsand said guide rib.

7. In a meter box provided With an inwardly projecting flange; a coverfor said box having a key opening and a locking element for engagingsaid flange at one point,

a key-actuated plunger slidably mounted on r the underside of said coverand adapted to engage said flange at the opposite side from said lockingelement and disposed beyond the end of said key opening and operatingsubstantially at right angles to said opening, and means depending fromsaid cover for holding said plunger in the locked position and in theunlocked position.

guard flange aboutsaid key opening, and a locking element slidablymounted on the un-' derside of said cover and disposed at the end ofsaid key opening substantially at right angles thereto and adapted toengage said flange at the opposite side from said firstnamed lockin gelement and having provision for operation by a key.

In testimony whereof, 7th day of June, 1922.

FRANK E. CROTTO.

I set my hand this

